210 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



Milk Recoj'ds. — The official milk record scheme supervised by 

 this Division has been strengthened by the Ayrshire, Shorthorn, and 

 South Devon Breeders' Societies taking part on the basis, and under 

 the same conditions as the Friesland Breeders' Association. The 

 value of the scheme bas been very much emphasized by the visit to 

 South Africa of Mr. Trevor Williams, ex-president of the British 

 Friesian Association, who is touring the country in connection with 

 the contemplated export of Frieslands to Great Britain. In the 

 event of export being arranged, it is understood that only animals, 

 or the progeny of animals, which have produced a fixed standard of 

 milk, containing a minimum percentage of butter-fat officially cer- 

 tified, would be accepted. It is obvious therefore that breeders who 

 are not in possession of official records of their cows would be 

 debarred from exporting. 



BOTANY. 



During December Dr. Polo Evans visited the Tygerberg district 

 in connection with the death of horses which was suspected of being 

 due to some plant poison. He also visited Bredasdorp on account of 

 a suspected outbreak of lamziekte in sheep. 



The Pathological Section reports the occurrence of a large number 

 of fungous and bacterial diseases in the vegetable and fruit crops. 

 "Blossom end rot" in tomatoes has been unusually severe in certain 

 localities, in particular Pretoria, and is attributed to unfavourable 

 weather conditions. So far as is known the trouble is not due to any 

 disease organism, but to physiological causes and can be controlled to 

 a large extent by regular irrigation and the selection of varieties of 

 tomatoes resistant to the disease. 



Other diseases of economic and special interest recorded include 

 " mildew " and Exohasidiiim vitis on vines (the latter a rare disease 

 in this country), peach freckle on apricots, walnut blight and bacterial 

 diseases of peas, beans and tobacco. Several interesting mycological 

 specimens were received, in particular three new ergots occurring on 

 native grasses near Capetown. It is hoped that these may prove of 

 some economic importance as a substitute for the rye ergot (Clamceps 

 purpurea) if they are found to occur in sufficient quantities. The 

 widespread occurrence of the myxomycete, Physarum. cinereum, 

 auring the month of January is also of considerable interest. It has 

 been reported from several parts of the Union and Rhodesia on grass 

 and on lucerne, and has been suspected of being injurious to young 

 stock. So far as can be ascertained, however, it is harmless in this 

 lespect, although it may cause some damage to the grass and lucerne 

 on which it grows, by injury through causing suffocation. The 

 organism is not a parasite and does not cause direct injury to the 

 plants on which it grows. 



Several phalloids — rather rare fungi — were found during 

 January, including Lysurus horealis in a potato patch in Johannes- 

 burg. This is only the second occurrence of this fungus recorded in 

 the mycological herbarium. 



A tobacco disease occurring in the Piet Retief District and known 

 to farmers as " verterende roest," was brought to our notice by the 

 Chief of the Tobacco and Cotton Division. An officer of this Division 

 was detailed to investigate the matter ; the disease starts in the lower 

 leaves which at first appear to be maturing prematurely, and spreads 



